Submersible electrical set-screw connector
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein is an electrical connector sealing member. The electrical connector sealing member includes an outer surface and an inner channel. A portion of the outer surface includes a stepped outer diameter. The sealing member is adapted to be received by an electrical connector at the outer surface. A portion of the inner channel includes a stepped inner diameter. The sealing member is adapted to receive an electrical conductor at the inner channel. The stepped inner diameter is offset from the stepped outer diameter.
1. An electrical connector sealing member comprising an outer surface and an inner channel, wherein a portion of the outer surface comprises a stepped outer diameter, wherein the sealing member is adapted to be received by an electrical connector at the outer surface, wherein a portion of the inner channel comprises a stepped inner diameter, wherein the sealing member is adapted to receive an electrical conductor at the inner channel, and wherein a centerline axis of the stepped inner diameter is offset from a centerline axis of the stepped outer diameter.
2. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein the sealing member comprises a one piece member formed from a polymer material.
3. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein the outer surface comprises a first outer section and a second outer section, wherein the first outer section comprises a first outer diameter, and wherein the second outer section comprises a second different outer diameter.
4. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein the inner channel comprises a first inner section and a second inner section, wherein the first inner section comprises a first inner diameter, and wherein the second inner section comprises a second different inner diameter.
5. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein the sealing member comprises a one piece member formed from a polymer material, wherein the outer surface comprises a first outer section and a second outer section, wherein the first outer section comprises a first outer diameter, and wherein the second outer section comprises a second different outer diameter.
6. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 5 wherein the inner channel comprises a first inner section and a second inner section, wherein the first inner section comprises a first inner diameter, and wherein the second inner section comprises a second different inner diameter.
7. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 6 wherein the first inner section corresponds with the first outer section, wherein the second inner section corresponds with the second outer section, wherein a centerline axis of the first inner diameter is offset from a centerline axis of the first outer diameter, and wherein a centerline axis of the second inner diameter is offset from a centerline axis of the second outer diameter.
8. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein the outer surface comprises a first outer section, a second outer section, and a step between the first and second outer sections, and wherein the sealing member is adapted to be cut proximate the step.
9. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 8 wherein the outer surface further comprises a third outer section and another step, wherein the another step is between the second outer section and the third outer section, and wherein the sealing member is adapted to be cut proximate the another step.
10. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein the stepped outer diameter comprises at least three different outer diameters.
11. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 10 wherein the stepped inner diameter comprises at least three different inner diameters.
12. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 11 wherein the at least three different inner diameters correspond with and are offset from the at least three different outer diameters.
13. An electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 wherein one end of the sealing member comprises a flange and wherein an opposite end comprises a cap section.
14. A submersible electrical set-screw connector comprising:
a connector body section comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is substantially perpendicular to the second opening, and wherein the first opening is adapted to receive a portion of an electrical conductor; and
an electrical connector sealing member as in claim 1 removably connected to the submersible electrical set-screw connector.
15. A submersible electrical set-screw connector comprising:
a connector body section comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is substantially perpendicular to the second opening, and wherein the first opening is adapted to receive a portion of an electrical conductor; and
a cover on the body section, wherein the cover comprises a tube having a tube opening, wherein the tube opening is substantially aligned with the first opening of the connector body section, wherein the tube opening comprises a first section having a first inside diameter and a second section having a second inside diameter, wherein the first inside diameter is offset from the second inside diameter, wherein the first inside diameter is adapted to contact a portion of a sealing member received in the tube opening, and wherein the second inside diameter is adapted to contact another different portion of the sealing member.
16. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 15 further comprising a first step between the first section and the second section, and wherein the first step is adapted to contact a portion of a sealing member received in the tube opening.
17. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 16 further comprising a third section and a second step, wherein the second step is between the second section and the third section, and wherein the second step is adapted to contact another portion of the sealing member received in the tube opening.
18. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 15 further comprising a sealing member removably connected to the connector at the tube opening.
19. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 18 wherein the sealing member comprises a first outer section and a second outer section, and wherein diameters of the first and the second outer sections correspond with the first and the second inside diameters of the tube opening.
20. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 18 wherein the sealing member comprises a stepped outer diameter and a stepped inner diameter.
21. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 18 wherein the sealing member comprises a first inner diameter and a second different inner diameter, wherein the first inner diameter is adapted to receive a first size conductor, and wherein the second inner diameter is adapted to receive a second different size conductor.
22. A submersible electrical set-screw connector as in claim 18 further comprising a clamp on the tube, wherein the clamp is adapted to compress the sealing member on to the conductor.
23. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector sealing member comprising:
providing a body section having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a first outer diameter and a second different outer diameter, wherein the body section is adapted to be received by an electrical connector at the outer surface, and wherein the first and the second outer diameters are adapted to correspond with first and second inner diameters of the electrical connector; and
providing an inner channel extending through a majority of the body section, wherein at least a portion of the inner channel is offset from the outer surface, wherein the inner channel comprises a first inner diameter and a second different inner diameter, and wherein the inner channel is adapted to receive an electrical conductor.
24. A method as in claim 23 wherein the providing of the body section further comprises providing a first section, a second section, and a step, wherein the first section comprises the first outer diameter, wherein the second section comprises the second outer diameter, wherein the step is between the first section and the second section, and wherein sealing member is adapted to be cut proximate the step.
25. A method as in claim 24 wherein the providing of the body section further comprises providing a third section and another step, wherein the third section comprises a third outer diameter, wherein the another step is between the second section and the third section, and wherein sealing member is adapted to be cut proximate the another step.